Method and Apparatus for Automatic Network Connection Between a Small Business and a Client

1. An Internet system for providing call-back services for a subscriber, comprising: a subscription call-back server configured for accepting input from a browsing person linked to the call-back server; a web page having a jump link to the subscription call-back server; and a call-switching system connected to and responsive to the call-back server; wherein the browsing person, upon activating the WEB page jump link, is linked to the call back server and prompted for input including a call-back number, and the call back server, after accepting the input, directs the call-switching system in establishing a telephony link between a subscriber and the browsing person.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the call-switching system comprises a telephony server (T-Server) connected to a telephony switch by a computer-telephony integration (CTI) link, and the T-Server is configured to accept directions from the call-back server and to direct the telephony switch in establishing the telephony link between the subscriber and the browsing person.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the call-back server accepts one or both of a telephone number and an IP address from the browsing person, the telephony switch has a Internet-capable port, and the T-Server, in response to input from the call-back server establishes one or both of a telephone link and an Internet link between the subscriber and the browsing person.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising an Integrated Voice Response (IVR) server connected to the telephony switch and configured to provide IVR services over a connection provided by the call-switching system.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the call-back server is configured to accept instructions from a browsing person including a range of multi-media services.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the IVR server is configured to provide to the subscriber a range of call disposition options.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising a call-center operable through the telephony switch under control of the T-Server, the call-center comprising agent stations having each a personal computer with a video display unit (PC/VDU) connected on a Local Area Network (LAN) to the T-Server, and a telephone connected to the telephony switch, wherein the T-Server, in response to input from the call-back server is configured to establish connections between browsing persons and connected agents, and to present data elicited from browsing persons on the VDUs at the agent stations.

8. A subscription call-center, comprising: a telephony switch having a telephone trunk line connection to a public switched telephony network (PSTN); a plurality of agent stations connected to the telephony switch; and a CTI Server (T-Server) connected to the telephony switch by a CTI link, the T-Server having a digital link to an Internet-connected call-back server; wherein the call-back server stores information about subscribers and accepts input from browsing persons seeking connection to agents for the subscribers, and the call-back server, directed by a browsing person providing a call-back number, directs the T-Server to command the telephony switch to establish a telephony connection between the browsing person and an agent for a subscriber.

9. The call-center of claim 8 further comprising a personal computer with a video display unit (PC/VDU) at each agent station, the PC/VDUs interconnected on a local area network (LAN) with the T-Server.

10. The subscription call-center of claim 9 wherein the telephony switch has an Internet capable port as well as a telephony trunk line, and the call-back server accepts IP addresses and telephone numbers from browsing persons, and wherein the T-Server is configured to cause the telephony switch to establish one or both of conventional telephony calls and Internet telephone calls between agents and browsing persons.

11. A method executed by computerized servers connected to the Internet Network providing call-back services to a browsing person on the Internet from a subscriber to a call-back service, comprising steps of: (a) providing a link in the subscriber's WEB page to a call-back server; (b) providing an input mechanism for browsing persons linked to the call-back server to input at least a call-back number; (c) activating a CTI Server (T-Server) connected to a telephony switch having a telephony trunk line from the call-back server to establish a telephony connection between the browsing person and the subscriber wherein the providing and activating steps are implemented by computerized servers connected to Internet.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein in step (b) the input mechanism elicits preferences from a browsing person for a range of available multi-media services associated with the subscriber, and the call-back server presents a script to the T-Server for providing the services according to the elicited preferences.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the telephony switch has connected agent stations, and in step (c) the telephony connection is established between the browsing person and an agent associated with the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the telephony switch is Internet-capable, and wherein the connection between a browsing person and a subscriber is an Internet telephone connection.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the telephony switch is Internet-capable, and wherein the connection between a browsing person and an agent is an Internet telephone connection.